Postharvest Treatments Research Articles

Efficacy of postharvest treatments with sodium nitroprusside and gibberellic acid on physio-biochemical modifications and vase life of dahlia cut flower

The goal of the current study was to evaluate the impacts of both sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and gibberellic acid (GA3) separately and in combination on the longevity of Dahlia cut flowers. Additionally, the potential physiological and biochemical changes associated with these treatments are also examined. Cut flowers treated with nitric oxide donor SNP and GA3 significantly improved all postharvest characteristics of cut flowers, including vase life and other physiological characteristics, as compared to control. Flowers treated with T15 (SNP 20 mg L-l + GA3 20 mg L-l) resulted in maximum vase life, followed by treatment T3 (SNP 20 mg-l) and minimum vase life recorded in control. Treatment T15 (SNP 20 mg L-l + GA3 20 mg L-l) shows an improvement in all biochemical activities, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase activity, except malondialdehyde accumulation, as compared with untreated cut flowers. Thus, SNP alone or along with GA3 as a pulsing solution could be a promising approach to improving the postharvest quality of dahlia cut flowers by influencing physiological and biochemical modifications.

Propiconazole resistance phenotypes in Geotrichum candidum from South Carolina peaches are linked to point mutations in GcCYP51B gene.

Geotrichum candidum Link (1809) is a yeast-like fungus that causes sour rot of peach (Prunus persica). Outbreaks of the disease have occurred since 2021 in peach fruit kept in cold storage despite post-harvest treatments with propiconazole at a commercial farm in South Carolina (SC). A total of 58 isolates, 40 from symptomatic fruit from cold storage in Saluda County (SC packing house isolates), 11 from three SC orchards in Saluda County, Spartanburg County, and Pickens County (SC non-packing house isolates), and 7 California (CA) isolates (at least 3 from packing houses) were evaluated for propiconazole sensitivity. Mycelial growth assays revealed that 6 of 7 CA isolates had the lowest EC50 values and were considered sensitive (S) to propiconazole with an average EC50 value of 0.02 µg/ml and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values >1 to < 3 µg/ml. Isolate 02J018 from CA and all SC non packing house isolates were considered reduced-sensitive (RS) to propiconazole with an average EC50 value of 0.33 µg/ml and MIC values >10 to <30 µg/ml. SC packing house isolates were considered resistant (R) to propiconazole and had an average EC50 value of 3.55 µg/ml and MIC values >300 µg/ml. Two CYP51 genes, GcCYP51A and GcCYP51B, encoding two demethylase inhibitor (DMI) target enzyme 14α-demethylases were identified, sequenced, and characterized. Two GcCYP51A and three GcCYP51B variants were found. While both GcCYP51A variants were linked to S isolates, the GcCYP51B2 variant possessing the mutation Y143F was found in RS, and the GcCYP51B3 variant possessing Y143F, E126K, and G460S mutations was identified in R isolates. The Y143F and G460S mutations had been associated with DMI fungicide resistance in other plant pathogens. No increased constitutive expression of GcCYP51A or GcCYP51B was observed in RS or R isolates. Detached fruit assays revealed that label rates of propiconazole controlled sour rot caused by S and RS but not R isolates. Our results suggest that sour rot outbreaks in a SC packing house were linked to target gene-induced propiconazole resistance in G. candidum.

Postharvest application of sodium nitroprusside improves the quality of ‘Umran’ ber fruit under cold storage conditions by regulating enzyme activities

ABSTRACT Ber fruit is highly perishable, with a storage life of only 3–5 days under ambient conditions, which makes it difficult to transport the fruit even to domestic markets. An experiment was conducted to study the effect of postharvest treatment with sodium nitroprusside (50, 100 and 150 µM) on the storage life, quality attributes, bioactive composition and antioxidant enzyme contents of ‘Umran’ ber fruit. The treated fruit were stored for 28 days to investigate the effects of sodium nitroprusside after 7 days of cold storage at 7.5°C and 90–95% RH. It was found that fruit treated with 100 μM sodium nitroprusside experienced lower fruit weight loss and spoilage, maintained fruit firmness, and had a higher sensory quality, phenolic content, carotenoid content, soluble solids content, sugar content, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity than the control. Furthermore, the activities of the cell wall degrading enzymes polygalacturonase, polyphenol oxidase, pectin methyl esterase and catalase were lower, while the activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase enzymes were higher in the treated fruit. Therefore, treatment with 100 μM sodium nitroprusside shows high potential for improving the storage life and maintaining the quality attributes of ber fruit for up to 21 days under cold storage.

Influence of Aloe Vera Gel and Safe Salts on Storage Quality of Minimally Processed Carrot

ABSTRACTThis experiment investigated the impact of aloe vera gel and safe salts on the physical quality and physicochemical properties of minimally processed carrots during storage, aiming to determine the most effective edible coating postharvest treatment. The experiment employed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Results indicated significant (p ≤ 0.01) effects of various treatments on the physical quality and physicochemical properties of carrots compared to untreated ones. Freshly harvested carrots were subjected to different treatments, including a control (T1), 30% aloe vera gel (T2), 1% NaCl (T3), and 1.5% NaHCO3 (T4), combinations thereof, such as 30% aloe vera gel with 1% NaCl (T5) or 1.5% NaHCO3 (T6), and 1% NaCl with 1.5% NaHCO3 (T7), and a combination of 30% aloe vera gel with 1% NaCl and 1.5% NaHCO3 (T8). Among the treatments, the combination of 30% aloe vera gel and 1% NaCl (T5) exhibited the most promising results after nine days of storage, with the lowest weight loss (1.19%), highest firmness (3.80 N), total soluble solids (TSS) content (8.40%), titratable acidity (0.477%), ascorbic acid content (9.02 mg/100 g FW), anthocyanin content (28.84 μg/g FW), phenol content (4.278 mg/100 g FW), and total sugar content (13.32%). This treatment effectively protected carrots from undesirable color, texture, and flavor changes during storage. The utilization of natural‐source‐based edible coatings containing health‐promoting additives presents a viable strategy to enhance both the internal and external qualities of minimally processed carrots. Overall, the edible coating comprising 30% aloe vera gel and 1% NaCl emerges as a promising approach for preserving the quality of minimally processed carrots.

Pre and postharvest treatments to reduce the chilling injury in Lilium stems

Pre and postharvest treatments to reduce the chilling injury in Lilium stems

Effect of time of harvesting and post-harvest treatments on physical characteristics of sap burn damage of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Dashehari in Telangana state

Effect of time of harvesting and post-harvest treatments on physical characteristics of sap burn damage of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Dashehari in Telangana state

Physicochemical quality retention of ‘Sucrier’ bananas (Musa acuminata AA group cv. ‘Kluai Khai’) by jicama starch-based postharvest treatment

The objective of this research was to develop a new type of edible coating using jicama starch (JS) in order to control the postharvest deterioration of ‘Sucrier’ bananas (Musa acuminata AA group cv. ‘Kluai Khai’) during the ripening process in ambient condition (25 ± 1 °C, 85-90 % RH). The preliminary experiment was carried out to investigate the impact of JS concentration (0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 % w/v) on the postharvest quality of bananas. The application of JS demonstrated a delay in banana ripening, including color development, weight loss, and fruit firmness. Within the JS-treated banana groups, 5.0 % treated bananas displayed higher firmness compared to the other groups. Therefore, a validation experiment was conducted to verify the subsequent physicochemical alterations in bananas after subjecting bananas to 5.0 % JS coating in comparison to non-treated bananas during storage at ambient condition. The JS treatment maintained the color and visual appearance by minimizing the formation of malondialdehyde content and electrical conductivity during storage. Furthermore, it resulted in a delay in the increases in total soluble solid, titratable acidity, BrimA, and total carotenoid concentrations in the pulp. Nevertheless, the ascorbic acid and phenolic contents and 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity of the control samples were likely to be higher than those of the treated bananas, whereas the ferric reducing antioxidant potential of both control and treated bananas showed a comparable trend throughout storage. The outcomes demonstrate that the utilization of JS is an effective approach for improving the overall storage capacity of ‘Sucrier’ bananas.

Alterations in quality characteristics and bioactive compounds of blackberry fruits subjected to postharvest salicylic acid treatment during cold storage

AbstractBlackberry deteriorates rapidly after harvest due to its sensitive structure, limiting their storage time to about a week and resulting in significant economic losses. The study was conducted to determine the effects of salicylic acid applications on postharvest fruit quality in blackberries, the harvested fruit was immersed in salicylic acid solutions prepared at concentrations of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mM for 15 min. Measurements and analyses such as weight loss, decay rate, soluble solids contents (SSC), pH, acidity, respiration rate, vitamin C, organic acids, and phenolic compounds were performed on fruits stored for 12 days with intervals of 4 days. Applying salicylic acid to fruits resulted in significantly less weight loss and decay rate. Salicylic acid application was effective in increasing SSC rate and decreasing titratable acidity with increasing storage time, and lower SSC and higher titratable acidity were measured with this application. Salicylic acid maintained organic acids and vitamin C postharvest. The decreases in individual phenolic compound levels occurred with extended storage time. Salicylic acid application generally was effective in maintaining concentrations of phenolic compounds during storage, and it was found to be effective on fruit quality, with effectiveness varying depending on application dosage. The study identified 1.5 mM as the most effective dosage of salicylic acid, which could be utilized to maintain postharvest quality and extend cold storage in blackberries.

Methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid treatment changes the nutritional quality, antioxidant profile and gene expression of postharvest blackberry fruit

Blackberry fruit is rich in various nutrients and has strong antioxidant activity. However, these fruit are soft, juicy, prone to decay and spoilage, and not suitable for storage. To ensure the quality of blackberry fruit and extend its shelf life, this study used methyl jasmonate (MJ), salicylic acid (SA), or MJ+SA to treat mature blackberry fruit after harvesting. And measure the fruit appearance indicators, antioxidant contents, antioxidant enzyme activities, and related gene expression levels stored at 4 °C for different durations. The results showed that the MJ, SA, and the combination of MJ+SA treatments could slow fruit softening by increasing antioxidant contents and antioxidant enzyme activities, with MJ+SA having the greatest effect on the postharvest treatment of blackberry. Compared with those in the control, the DPPH radical scavenging capacity, total phenol and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant enzyme (POD, GSH, and SOD) activities were increased in three hormone treatment groups. Moreover, the expression levels of key genes involved in flavonoid and phenol compound synthesis were upregulated in all the postharvest treatment groups. There was a positive correlation between the contents of total phenol and flavonoid and between their related structural enzyme-encoding genes and transcription factors. This study lays the foundation for further exploration of hormone application for prolonging the shelf life and changing in the antioxidant activity of blackberry fruit.

Zein nanoencapsulation enhances the antifungal activity of thymol for postharvest decay control in bananas

AbstractThe current work describes a nanoparticle system-based approach to enhance the antifungal activity of thymol, a ubiquitous natural antifungal phenolic compound, in postharvest control against banana anthracnose. Thymol was encapsulated within the amphiphilic protein zein by high-shear emulsification, yielding highly dispersible thymol-loaded zein nanoparticles with a high encapsulation efficiency (70%). These particles have an average diameter of 300 nm with spherical morphology, smooth interface, and matrix-type internal structure, as supported by comprehensive structural characterization (dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy). Based on a 40-d storage stability test, thymol was effectively retained within the nanoparticles at 4 °C and ambient room temperature (99% and 97% retention, respectively), despite thymol’s instability and volatility. Antifungal activity assessment against Colletotrichum musae, one of the predominant pathogens that cause banana anthracnose, showed a 200- to 300-fold improvement in the in vitro antifungal activity of thymol. Moreover, the application of thymol-loaded zein nanoparticles as a spray component for banana postharvest treatment demonstrated the efficacy of thymol-loaded zein nanoparticles in preventing and delaying the formation of initial symptoms of banana anthracnose. This appears to arise from the thymol-loaded zein nanoparticles depositing as a film on the banana epidermis, as revealed by atomic force microscopy. Overall, this nanoparticle system offers a new avenue for the design of effective antifungal materials with potential applications in combatting postharvest diseases. Graphical abstract

Post-Harvest Alternatives in Banana Cultivation

Banana, also known as plátano in some places, is a fruit consumed and appreciated around the world. Its scientific name is Musa paradisiaca, belonging to the Musaceae family. It is native to Southeast Asia and is currently grown in 130 countries in tropical and subtropical regions. This fruit is harvested throughout the year; 75% is generated mainly in India, Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, and China. Post-harvest technology enables efficient processing, storage, transportation, and distribution while preserving the quality and safety of the fruit to reduce economic losses. Currently, challenges are being investigated for post-harvest treatments to minimize the environmental impact, reduce polluting emissions, and the requirement for less energy consumption. The most-used options for bananas are de-greening, atmospheric modification, coatings, and frigoconservation, which are important for achieving safe, healthy, and high-quality food in the XXI century. This review details the post-harvest mechanical damage, handling of environmental parameters (temperature and relative humidity), control of gases involved in storage and transport, wax treatment, coatings, the use of antifungal compounds, and packaging necessary for the export of the fruit.

Postharvest Application of Different Coatings to Improve the Quality and Storage Stability of Papaya Fruit (Carica papaya L.) Cv. Red Lady

The Present investigation was carried out on title “Study on different post-harvest treatment for improving shelf life and quality of Papaya fruit (Carica papaya L.) cv. Red lady”. The Experiment was conducted in a Completely Randomized Design with 10 treatments viz. T0-Control, T1- Ethrel 500 ppm, T2- Ethrel 700 ppm, T3- Aloevera gel 1.0%, T4- Aloevera gel 1.5%, T5- Corn Starch 1.0%, T6- Corn Starch 1.5%, T7- Cassava Starch 1.0%, T8- Cassava Starch 1.5%, T9- (Corn Starch 1.5% + Cassava Starch 1.5%) and their three replications, during the year 2023. Aloevera gel 1.5% treated fruits showed the better results followed by the Aloevera gel 1.0%. This coating reduced the transpiration rate and slowed down the ethylene production and formed a layer on the surface of papaya fruits which helped in protection from microorganisms, fungus resulting in the increase in shelf life of fruits and storage quality. The Papaya fruits treated with Corn Starch 1.5% was also found to be significantly good treatments over the Control in respect of storage quality and shelf life of Papaya fruits during the storage. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that Aloevera gel 1.5% was found to be most appropriate treatment in papaya cv. Red Lady. Therefore, it can be used in Papaya cv. Red Lady for physiochemical traits ie., Physiological loss in weight, Decay percent, Fruit Firmness, Sensory Evaluation, Visual Appearance, TSS.

Influence of Tea Polyphenols, Chitosan, and Melatonin as the Eco-Friendly Post-Harvest Treatments on the Vase Life of the Cut Chrysanthemum ‘Pingpong’ Group

Vase life is a decisive measure of the marketability of post-harvest physiology in cut flowers. In the process of petal senescence, the cut chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum × morifolium) ‘Pingpong’ group develops severe capitulum collapse which manifests as wilting and browning, leading to shorter vase life. Melatonin (MT), tea polyphenols (TPs), and chitosan (CT) are natural alternatives to chemical compounds with proven preservation effects. In this study, the possibility of mitigating capitulum collapse using the preservation solutions of these three eco-friendly ingredients was investigated on four varieties from the ‘Pingpong’ group, aiming to delay the senescence process. The effects on vase life of 0.02/0.04 mmol·L−1 MT, 200/400 mg·L−1 TPs, and 0.10/0.20 g·L−1 CT were, respectively, assessed with the basis of 20 g·L−1 sucrose and 250 mg·L−1 citric acid. The yellow and white varieties tend to have a longer vase life compared with the green and pink varieties. Compared to the control with only base ingredients, the greatest delay in capitulum collapse was observed with 0.04 mmol·L−1 MT in the yellow variety, maximizing the vase life to 13.4 days. MT maintained the best ornamental quality of the capitulum by decelerating fresh weight and flower diameter loss in terms of all varieties. TPs significantly increased flower diameter to improve vase life up to four more days. However, CT caused significant negative effects on vase life, with severe loss of both flower diameter and fresh weight. Therefore, the application of 0.04 mmol·L−1 MT and 200 mg·L−1 TPs was suggested to enhance the marketability of cut ‘Pingpong’, which highlighted the eco-friendly potential of post-harvest treatments.

Effect of Different Post-Harvest Temperatures on Fungal Quality and Mycotoxin Contents of Irvingia Gabonensis

Irvingiagabonensis is a valuable food commodity in West and Central Africa, but post-harvest fungal contamination and mycotoxin accumulation pose significant challenges to itsquality and safety. This study investigated the effects of post-harvest temperature treatments(50, 60, 70, and 80°C) on fungal growth and mycotoxin levels in I. gabonensis kernels.Fungal growth was assessed by determining the colony-forming units per gram (CFU/g),while mycotoxin levels (aflatoxins and fumonisins) were quantified using high-performanceliquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that higher temperature treatments,particularly at 70°C and 80°C, significantly reduced both fungal growth and mycotoxin levelscompared to lower temperature treatments (50°C and 60°C). The 80°C treatment was themost effective, resulting in an 82.9% reduction in fungal growth, an 82.5% reduction in totalaflatoxins, and a 73.2% reduction in total fumonisins compared to the 50°C treatment. Thefindings highlight the importance of post-harvest temperature management in ensuring thequality and safety of I. gabonensiskernels and provide a basis for the development ofimproved post-harvest practices to reduce fungal contamination and mycotoxin exposure.

The efficacy of adding some antioxidant compounds in alleviating strawberry fruit rots during storage

BACKGROUND: Postharvest decay caused by Botrytis cinerea (gray mold) and Fusarium solani (fruit decay) negatively affects strawberry fruits during handling and marketing. OBJECTIVE: The effect of cinnamon oil, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate and/or pomegranate peel powder were estimated on the growth of the two pathogenic fungi and their fruit decay incidence under in vitro and in vivo conditions. METHODS: The isolated fungi from decayed strawberry fruits were identified as Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium sp. The isolated Fusarium sp. was identified molecularly as Fusarium solani and registered in GenBank under accession number ON248575.1 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/ON248575.1). RESULTS: Complete fungal growth suppression was observed at a concentration of 3% for all tested materials, Additionally the same (100%) effect was achieved at 2% of a combination of essential oil, salts and pomegranate peel powder. Significant reduction in decay incidence and severity was observed in inoculated strawberry fruits treated with the same concentrations of the tested materials after 10 and 15 days of storage. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that cinnamon oil, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate and/or pomegranate peel powder have potency as eco-friendly products, for safe postharvest treatments against strawberry fruit rots during storage. They could be recommended for use in packing-houses due to their wide utilization as safe food preservatives.

Postharvest blown-arc plasma treatment did not reduce Fusarium graminearum or its mycotoxins in field-infested wheat grain

The increasing prevalence of Fusarium graminearum, a major causative pathogen of Fusarium head blight in cereal crops, leads to contamination of grain with mycotoxins, which necessitates the development of effective management strategies. This study investigated whether postharvest Blown-Arc plasma treatment could reduce F. graminearum and associated mycotoxins in field-infested grain. Postharvest Blown-Arc plasma treatment for 60 or 180 s was trialled to reduce Fusarium graminearum and deoxynivalenol (DON) mycotoxins in field-infested wheat grain. Changes in fungal components of the grain microbiome following the treatment were assessed using metabarcoding analysis of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer gene region, and liquid chromatography mass spectrophotometry was used to measure changes in concentrations of the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), DON-3-glucoside (DON3-G) and 3-acetyl-DON (3-ADON). Fusarium spp. were the most common taxa in the grain over two seasons, with the relative abundance being higher in 2020 (72%) compared to 2021 (45%). Postharvest plasma treatment of field-infested grain for 60 or 180 s did not significantly lower Fusarium abundance. Alpha and beta diversity of the natural mycobiota in the grain were also unaffected. The concentrations of mycotoxins were not significantly different after the treatments, except that in the 2021 trial, the 180 s treatment caused a significant increase in DON concentration. We concluded that the postharvest plasma treatment used in this study did not reduce Fusarium contamination or the concentration of mycotoxins, DON, DON3-G and 3-ADON in field-infested grain. The results highlight the importance of using field-infested grain in experiments, as opposed to grain inoculated under laboratory conditions, which provides only superficial infection. This approach is crucial for accurately understanding the dynamics of treatment efficacy.

Gaseous ozone as a postharvest treatment: recent lessons from South Africa

Gaseous ozone as a postharvest treatment: recent lessons from South Africa

Multiphysical field and multiobjective mathematical modeling of grain-oilseed storage: Current status and future trends.

Storage is an important process involved in the postharvest treatment of grain-oilseed and is necessary for maintaining high quality and ensuring the long-term supply of these commodities in the food industry. Proper storage practices help prevent spoilage, maintain nutritional value, and preserve marketable quality. It is of great interest for storage to investigate flow, heat and mass transfer processes, and quality change for optimizing the operation parameters and ensuring the quality of grain-oilseed. This review discusses the mathematical models developed and applied to describe the physical field, biological field, and quality change during the storage of grain-oilseed. The advantages, drawbacks, and industrial relevance of the existing mathematical models were also critically evaluated, and an organic system was constructed by correlating them. Finally, the future research trends of the mathematical models toward the development of multifield coupling models based on biological fields to control quality were presented to provide a reference for further directions on the application of numerical simulations in this area. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence (AI) can greatly enhance our understanding of the coupling relationships within grain-oilseed storage. AI's strengths in both qualitative and quantitative analysis, as well as its effectiveness, make it an invaluable tool for this purpose.

Effect of Some Postharvest Treatments on Removal of Emamectin benzoate and Quality of Cherry Tomato Fruits During Cold Storage

Effect of Some Postharvest Treatments on Removal of Emamectin benzoate and Quality of Cherry Tomato Fruits During Cold Storage

Natural postharvest treatments to potato tubers stored at different temperatures delayed sprouting and preserved tuber quality

Natural postharvest treatments to potato tubers stored at different temperatures delayed sprouting and preserved tuber quality